Dahlia plant named &#39;BKDADO&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘BKDADO’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; medium-sized dark green-colored leaves; and large decorative inflorescences with orange-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Dahlia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKDADO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahliaplant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘BKDADO’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Heinenoord and Maasdijk, The Netherlands.The objective of the breeding program is to create new container Dahliaplants that have a freely basal branching habit, and large decorativeinflorescences with attractive ray floret coloration.

The new Dahlia plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofDahlia hybrida ‘BKDARD’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,929. Thenew Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘BKDARD’ in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Heinenoord, The Netherlands inAugust, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by terminal cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands sinceNovember, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Dahliaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural conditions. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BKDADO’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BKDADO’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.    -   2. Freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.    -   3. Medium-sized dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Large decorative inflorescences with orange-colored ray        florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the mutationparent, ‘BKDARD’ in ray floret color as plants of ‘BKDARD’ have brightred-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia hybrida‘Gallery Art Fair’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,487. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Dahlia differed from plants of ‘BKDAOR’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia were more upright than and not as        compact as plants of ‘BKDAOR’.    -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia were not as freely flowering as        plants of ‘BKDAOR’.    -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘BKDAOR’ differed in ray floret        color as plants of ‘BKDAOR’ had yellow to yellow orange-colored        ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Dahlia plant. The photograph on the first sheet comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKDADO’ grown in acontainer. The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical inflorescences of ‘BKDADO’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the autumn in 1.5-litercontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlandsand under cultural practices which approximate those generally used incommercial Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, dayand night temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 19° C. Plants were pinchedone time and were eleven weeks old when the photographs and descriptionwere taken. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida ‘BKDADO’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Dahlia    hybrida ‘BKDARD’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,929.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at            temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 days at            temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days            at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 23 days            at temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots; tuber            development has not been observed on plants of the new            Dahlia.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright and mounding plant            form; freely basal branching habit with about four primary            branches each with about two secondary branches developing            per plant; inflorescences held above the foliar plane on            strong peduncles; bushy and dense growth habit; pinching is            not required but will improve branching habit.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 18.9            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 31.9            cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 32.2 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 13.1 cm. Diameter: About            6 mm. Internode length: About 3.4 cm. Aspect: Primary            branches are mostly erect; secondary branches, about 35°            from primary branch axis. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color,            developing: Close to 146A. Color, developed: Close to 143A            tinged with close to N186C.-   Leaf & leaflet description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves opposite and compound with three or five            leaflets.        -   Length, leaves.—About 16.7 cm.        -   Length, leaflets.—About 7.9 cm.        -   Width, leaves.—About 14.3 cm.        -   Width, leaflets.—About 4.8 cm.        -   Shape, leaves in overall outline.—Ovate.        -   Shape, leaflets.—Ovate.        -   Apex, leaflets.—Acute.        -   Base, leaflets.—Attenuate.        -   Margin, leaflets.—Coarsely serrate.        -   Venation pattern, leaflets.—Pinnate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface, leaflets.—Slightly            rugose, glabrous; slightly velvety; matte.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface, leaflets.—Smooth,            glabrous; matte.        -   Color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to 147A.            Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully            expanded leaflets, upper surface: Slightly darker than            between NN137A and 189A; venation, close to 143A. Fully            expanded leaflets, lower surface: Close to 191A; venation,            close to 147B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 4.9 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Height:            About 5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Texture            and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower            surface: Close to 144A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Double inflorescence form with            ray and disc florets forming acropetally on a receptacle;            inflorescences positioned above and beyond the foliar plane            on strong peduncles; inflorescences face mostly upright;            freely flowering habit with about 20 inflorescences            developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response and flowering period.—Early flowering            habit, plants begin flowering about ten weeks after            planting; plants flower continuously during the autumn into            the winter in The Netherlands.        -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good            substance for about ten days on the plant; inflorescences            persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 7 mm. Diameter: About            1 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 144B to 144C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.4 cm. Depth (height):            About 7.8 cm. Disc diameter: About 8 mm, inconspicuous.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145C.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 180 arranged in about eight whorls. Length: About            3.9 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex:            Obtuse to shallowly retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Aspect: Upright to roughly horizontal and eventually            downward; moderately concave. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; slightly            glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;            moderately velvety; matte.        -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: Close to 22A; towards            the base, close to 163B. When opening, lower surface: Close            to 22A flushed with close to 37C; proximally, close to N45A            to N45C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 22A and 23B;            towards the base, close to 12A; colors becoming closer to            28B and towards the base, close to 9B with development;            venation, same as lamina colors. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 22A flushed with close to 37B; proximally,            close to N45B to N45C; colors becoming close to 53C to 53D            and towards the apex, close to 8B to 8C with development;            venation, same as lamina colors.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 30 massed at the center of the inflorescence in about            three whorls. 5′ Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About            1.5 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated; apices, acute. Texture            and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Apex:            Close to 13A. Mid-section and base: Close to 151C to 151D.            Color, fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close            to 13A. Mid-section and base: Close to 151C.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About eight arranged in about two whorls. Length: About            1.3 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to NN137B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 10.6 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3.5 mm. Strength: Strong.            Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.            Color: Close to 144A; proximally, tinged with close to            darker than 148A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on disc florets            only: Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length:            About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 151D. Anther shape:            Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About 4 mm. Anther color:            Close to 200A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close            to 21A. Gynoecium, present on disc florets only: Quantity            per floret: One. Pistil length: About 1.3 cm. Style length:            About 9 mm. Style color: Close to 151D. Stigma diameter:            About 1.5 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft, decurrent. Stigma color:            Close to 17A to 17B. Ovary color: Close to 145D. Seeds and            fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been observed on            plants of the new Dahlia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia    plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Dahlia have been observed    to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for    USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘BKDADO’ asillustrated and described.